It’s Home Sweet Home for Bield’s Longest Residing Tenant

Great grandmother Cathie Coleman has made her mark in the history of Bield, Scotland’s leading provider of housing and care services for older people – after becoming its longest residing tenant.

Cathie, who turns 98 this September, moved into Church Court – a very sheltered development run by Bield in Dumbarton – in 1981, meaning she has clocked up 33 years with Bield.

Keen reader Cathie originally hails from Glasgow but moved to Dumbarton, where her husband Jimmy lived, after marrying in 1946 and went on to have a son and two daughters.

It was in 1981 – at aged 65 – that Cathie and her late husband decided to move into Bield’s Church Court recognising that they were becoming older and less mobile and a move into sheltered housing would allow them to opt for help when they needed it.

In 2003, Church Court became very sheltered housing and Cathie took advantage of the development’s meals service.

Dedicated Carers

Cathie’s daughter Katie Johnston, a retired Manager with Bield, who also lives in Bield’s Bridge Court development in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, said: “My mother lives in very sheltered housing at Church Court.

“As she has gotten older, her eyesight and general mobility has deteriorated so she relies on the help of both her dedicated carers and the excellent staff at Church Court with things such as meals.

“She has been a widow for 26 years now and it is with the help of those who work at Church Court that she has reached this significant milestone as Bield’s longest residing tenant.”

Cathie, who also has five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, has led a fascinating life consisting of everything from working as a kitchen maid at Glasgow University, becoming a fully qualified butcher and working as a bus conductor.

Significant Milestone

Sandra Wilkie, Scheme Manager at Church Court, said: “We are thrilled to have Cathie as our longest residing tenant. It’s a very significant milestone for her and for us at Bield.

“At Church Court we really try to support our residents in their choices as to how independently they chose to live their lives and we are delighted that Cathie uses the services we have to offer.

“She is a prime example of one of our residents living as independently as possible and we truly admire her spirit.”

Kathy Crombie, Communications and Marketing Manager at Bield, said: “Cathie’s time with Bield is a remarkable achievement – and a cause for much celebration for her and her family and for everyone at Bield.

“We don’t know of anyone else who has lived for so long in a development for older people, so we think she could be a bit of a record holder.

“It’s testament to the fact that Bield’s older people are free to enjoy life, free to be who they want to be and free to continue to make the most of life.

“It really does brighten our day to know Bield does make a difference. What bigger achievement is there than knowing that through the provision of quality housing and care services we have enabled people like Cathie to live independent fulfilling lives – and they continue to live their lives to the full.

Related

Private: Vickie Henry

Vickie Henry is a part of the expert PR team at the award-winning Holyrood Partnership, public relations agency in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The PR agency works with businesses across Scotland.
As well as providing media relations, crisis communications, Holyrood Partnership also offers PR photography, affordable video for businesses, social media services and strategic content delivery for businesses.